Yes I would help as I know how it feels not to be helped, I collapsed a few years ago at a bus stop and landed on the road in a big puddle and the other people in the que just stood there, a taxi man saw me and pulled over picked me up out of the path of the bus put me in the taxi and flagged down a patrol car who then got me an ambulance, I was so thankful for him being there

I was on the London Overground a few months back and an elderly man a few seats down was having a heart attack. Only myself and another woman even bothered assisting the man, which I felt pretty helpless as I didn’t know first aid. I ran down the carriages looking for a nurse, doctor or someone who knew first aid….no one was prepared to help the man. Most people were too busy reading their free newspapers and listening to music. Luckily we alerted the driver and stopped in a station right across the road from a hospital. Nothing really surprises me about London but it really shocked me how so few people in a packed train were prepared to help in an emergency situation.

Would always assist and have done so in the past.

Course I would help. However, my first aid is (embarrassingly) poor, so the help I can offer may only to be go and get someone else to help, but that still counts, right?

Can’t imagine ignoring it. Once saw a fella collapse on footpath as I was driving past, I pulled over immediately but a lot of cars drove past, madness… (Turned out the man had taken too much drink and was fine, someone else who stopped drove him home as they knew where he was from)

Straight ans yes . I did yesterday when an old man fell and hit his head – took my coat off put under his head called ambulance and rang last nite to see how he was – all is good and I’d do whatever I could to help anyone again if I was in a position

Most people do tend to offer help in some way or another, as most paramedics will tell you, at accidents everyone seems to be a nurse or a doctor or even an “ambulance driver”… Well they claim to be. People will say ohh no i wouldnt stop to help, i wouldnt know what to do or id be afraid, in reality most people do stop, especially in ireland, dispite having no training most stop to offer comfort and reassurance and call for an ambulance or gardai and stay until help arrives, which is most often all that is required. In that they usually help more than they realise.

A few years ago I was having a haircut and a man in the salon had a seizure. I was the only one who knew what to do, and my knowledge came from First Aid and CPR I learned from WaterSafety/Swimming lessons as a kid. I had to actually carry out CPR on one other occasion too. I think it’s something everyone should learn, just in case. You never know when you could be the difference between life or death. Even if the person doesn’t survive, their loved ones would know someone at least tried to save their life.

I have seen nurses rabbit on for ages about ‘would i be liable’ for this or for that in respect of stopping to aid someone , but for me there is only one question to ask myself – could i live with myself if I could have helped and did not?

I would (and have) helped and deal with legal issues later

I am stunned and shocked how many of you are more worried about the legal side of being a good samaritan. Just to be clear, since we seem to have a lot of experts here:

51D.— (1) A good samaritan shall not be personally liable in negligence for any act done in an emergency when providing—
(a) assistance, advice or care to a person who is—
(i) in serious and imminent danger, or apparently in serious and imminent danger, of being injured or further injured,
(ii) injured or apparently injured, or
(iii) suffering, or apparently suffering, from an illness,
or
(b) advice by telephone or by another means of communication to a person (whether or not the person is a person referred to in paragraph (a)) who is at the scene of the emergency.

I am really shocked at this poll.

To clarify, you cannot be sued when helping in an emergency situation

I cannot believe how many people would not help in an accident. For all the people that said they would be reluctant or wouldn’t help. If you were in an accident and needed immediate assistance what would you think of a person that wouldn’t help you? A persons life is more important than possible consequences.

First Aid & CPR is changing so quickly, it is important that people do it in the first place and keep up there certification, its life skill, i always say its better to know it and not need it, then not know it and need it!

I would assist and I have first aid training but I have to admit the fear of not being able to remember it or do it correctly is a real one.

I’ve being saying it for years, you should not hold a drivers licence without at least First Responder level of First Aid training, and the schools should be providing training for all students and especially TY students.

If I might cheekily use this page to highlight something that I, along with another EMT, are pushing through the medium of Facebook. We hope to get some favourable response from the minister to get the VAT rate removed from defibrillators but we need as much support as possible. Please log in here and like it. We will keep everyone up to date with our progress and hopefully if we are successful it will mean that these life saving machines are cheaper to purchase thereby freeing up money for training. https://www.facebook.com/BeatingAgain?ref=hl

My own father on a gaa day out in Dublin dropped of heart attack at busy train station. Not one person done mouth to mouth or CPR. I was not there to help. He died within minutes surrounded by hundreds of passers by commenting on if he was dead and doing f all to help. Yes welcome to Ireland. Only half consolation for me is that at least ambulance crew worked above and beyond

of course I would help ! How could anyone just think of themselves if another is in trouble . I think this fear thing is an excuse! I was once at the site of a terrible accident where all I could do was climb through the window of a car and be with the driver as he died . If I had left him alone I know it would have bothered me after !

and i would hope someone would help me if i needed it!!

We’re working with a motoring group who want to put some ‘first responder’ info on their app, for those who come across the scene of an accident. This has opened a whole can of worms legally and any reference to first aid is being deleted. All we can do is advise on how to secure the scene and who to call. Any reference to making the patient comfortable have been deleted and advise instead ‘do not move the patient, wait for paramedics to arrive’.

I’d be interested to see what the actual question asked in their study was. 95% seems too high.

I think the survey either was worded in a very odd way or was given to a small sample. From my own experience people are quick to offer help if they see anyone in distress. Recently I saw an elderly woman fall in Waterford and so many of us ran to her it was a bit of a tangle for a few moments. Also in first aid training I was informed that I couldn’t be sued if all I administered was first aid ie. no medication, medical diagnosis.

Of course I would help. I couldn’t even see a situation where a person would think otherwise.

training as a nurse so i would absolutely help.

I would assist no matter what the situation. All it takes is to stay with the person while you dial 999
I dont see why people wouldnt help, alot of people are just afraid.
Id love to help when it comes to accidents

I saw a woman knocked down on D’olier st.a few years back. There were a couple of people helping her already so I ran into the blood donation clinic right beside the accident and asked for blankets to put over her as she was in shock or at least some water or something. The staff all outright refused to help as they are not trained emergency personnel and would risk a lawsuit.
To be in a position where trained medical professionals outright refuse to do something even a layman would do like give a blanket to someone in shock out of fear of lawsuits is beyond madness.

and this is whats wrong with the world. eveyone thinking about themselfs.

I’m an advanced paramedic working with the HSE and a first aid instructor. The way I explain it to people is this: If you’re trained and competent to do something, then do it. If you’re trained and don’t feel competent, then don’t do it. You won’t get in any legal trouble if you don’t step over the mark. If you’re not trained, then use your common sense. Sometimes it’s more important to make an accident scene safe and call for help than actually doing anything with the patient. If you have no training and try something that you saw on ER or House, then you’re in trouble, and deservedly so.

I don’t care, a life is a life and if I can do something to save one then ill risk a day in court, god knows it says more about the person whose live it saves then the person who’s being sued for doing it!

I was on a flight many years ago where a serious medical indicent developed. The crew training only goes so far. Things started to get desperate and PAs for medical professionals where made. All pleas went unanswered. Sadly the passenger despite eventually slipping into cardiac arrest and 30 mins of CPR with a defib that wouldn’t shock resulting in his death, all this just 10 minutes before we traced an airfield and medical teams.

It was about 3 hours later as the flight got back underway that we then discovered we had 3 doctors onboard all travelling together to a Caria something or other convention! The RAGE that all the crew felt was immense! I still think to this day if they had just had the balls to come forward things may have been different!

I had a man hit by a car on a street die in my arms. Busy street must have been well over 100 people and only me and one other did anything. I undersyand people freeze in panic situations but this man was choking to death with blood. I cleared his airway moved him to recovery even with clearly broken neck. But sure not moving would have killed him alot faster. But so few people did anything

The failure of large crowds to assist people in distress has been well documented: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect
I’d like to think that I’d be more likely to intervene, knowing about the Bystander effect and having had first aid training, but it’s impossible to say.

I remember being in London some years ago with a nurse when a young lad was knocked down. She didn’t budge. I asked why and her reply shocked me saying she didn’t want to be sued. What was worse was the reaction of people around the incident and bus drivers who literally drove around the boy on the ground beeping in anger at those who did assist. I swore I would never allow that to happen again and as an EMT I would always help.

The good Samaritan law is in Ireland Fiachra. You won’t end up in court as long as you act within the scope of your training and act as a normal prudent person would.

EMT & SAR responder.

95% seriously!? Disgraceful

I have first aid so I would see what I could do.

As long as you are working within the parameters of your training you should have no problems with getting sued. If you are not trained the very least you can do is call 999/112 for assistance (where you will be talked through what you should do to help).

As far as I know no one has ever been successfully sued for trying to save someone’s life in this country. There is no way a judge would side with the claimant if all you were trying to do was help or make their situation better.

Everyone should do a course in CPR/AED, it is a life skill that is invaluable if you ever have the misfortune to need it.

I have to say I would help and have done in the past. No excuse not to . I have been helped myself in the past and I was al;ways so very greatful.

This is why we need the “Good Samaritan” Bill to be passed, as well as country wide first aid classes in schools, with regular updates and upskilling…the amount of times I’ve come across or gone to an emergency situations where the crowd just stands there and watches is rediculous

As long as you don’t do more than your trained to do you cannot be sued.

Legal issues seem to rule everything in our lives sadly.People afraid to help in fear of court summonses….pathetic.

I would try my best to help save a life….as much as I am able..like calling Emergency….People(me included no excuse!) should learn First Aid basics

I have called many times an ambulance when I have seen a drunken or drugged person passed out on the streets of Berlin in minus temperatures. After hundreds of people have done nothing. I would attempt first aid, and have done so, if I would be the only person able to help.

have done and will continue to do so. but then again I am an emt and a nurse

Who in their right mind could not?

Bloody sure I’d help. I’d strongly sudgest that people get themselves familiar with Defibrilation machines, AED etc. Done an OFA/Occ. 1st-Aid & Defibrilation Course in 2010/11 & 2011/12 & Certified til Mid-2014. Have used it in the event of an Individual suffering a seizure while driving. He’d pulled over into the hard-shoulder but scene-safety had to be done, prevent further injuries to the patient etc. Unbutton shirt n’ tie. Make sure Patient didn’t open door into Traffic. Got Drivers’ Window down, Key out of Ignition & Rang 999 to be sure. Another case I dealt with a Gentleman who collapsed in a Supermarket. Had to put him into Recovery Position. Small things but it’s important not to ignore. Always seek help. 999 or 112 will always guide you through!

I think it is very important to stop and give assistance. Who knows one day it could be you or a family member or friend that requires assistance. In relation to the law there has never been anybody Successfully sued in Ireland for assisting an injured person. Visit my blog http://www.nbts.ie for more details on our Good Samaritan Law. Please Note the definition of a Good Samaritan under this act — It means a person who, without expectation of payment or other reward, provides assistance, advice or care to another person in an emergency. It does not mentioned being trained so anyone can be a Good Samaritan

the amount of no votes is a bit shocking. of course I’d help but being a paramedic working in the emergency services I see it as my duty, even when clocked out. you’re covered once you provide care up to your scope of training, if you have no training then give reassurance and dial 999/112. if the casualty refuses help then all you can do is stand back and call for the emergency services.

I’ve been in this position before whereby I witnessed a road accident. After narrowly avoiding been hit by an out of control car by leaping a barrier, my first reaction was to see if there was anything I could do to help the poor lady who’s car had been hit head on. A first aider who had been cycling to work also stopped to help & asked if I could sit in the back of the car & hold her neck & head straight until paramedics got there & could put a neck brace on. At the time of this accident the thought that if I did something wrong that I could be sued never even crossed my mind.

I would always help and have done in the past, except when I see a junkie who needs help as I don’t want Aids

i answered yes i would always see what i could do but it’s only showing 100% for id be reluctant!? hmmm id be reluctant to believe it’s working!!

I’ve been helped or had help offered to me a few times and i’ve always really appreciated it but I did have a very unsettled experience on the Red Luas one time.
A very large and very drunk man got on outside the Four Courts with a woman he’d obviously run into at the Luas stop, so we heard all about how his wife/babymomma/whatever had just been sentenced to three years for something and now he was going to be left with the kids but it’s okay because his ma is going to look after them…they flirted a bit but then the woman got off and he got bored.
That’s when he noticed me and started telling me I had nice hair (and tits) and started feeling me up. There wasn’t much I could do because although I look okay I am disabled and was practically crippled with pain at the time. All I could do was shout “Don’t touch me!” but he didn’t listen.
We were both standing because the Luas was full, and he was blocking me from moving away, and every single person on that tram -which was dead silent except for this lunatic- sat there and watched what was happening and did nothing. One lady actually tried to give me a sympathetic look, as if this was just something we all have to put up with or something. Looking back now, I wish I’d spat in her face and pulled the Emergency Stop thing, but I wasn’t sure if this counted as an actual emergency and I didn’t want to be hit with a fine.
I know that’s not a life-threatening medical emergency or whatever, but I was terrified.

The Good Samaritan has not been passed by the government so therefore it will not cover anybody

hi noleen, i was actually on a course this week and they told us there wasnt !

youd think the govt or phecc would tell us lol

thanks for the link

The lack of a Samaritan’s law, coupled with the fact that my first aid training is about 7 years out of date, would make me highly reluctant to aid someone.

I know it sounds incredibly selfish, but the fear of being sued for breaking someone’s rib while performing CPR is a substantial factor! I’d hope that most people wouldn’t be that cruel, but you never know!

If I was Medically qualified as a First Aider, then & only then would I render the Appropiate Medical Assitence required @ the time of A Medical Emergency Situation.

yes i would assist. but if u are are a trained first aider(i think efr or above) and you start treating somebody. you can not leave that person until practitioner takes over care. u can only handover to somebody of same clinical level or above

also, if you do assist and u do something wrong to person. do CPR and brake there ribs. they can bring u to court for damages.

theres no good samaritan act in ireland